A shrinking rural population is worsening the ag labor shortage.

The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows 56 percent of Nebraska’s population now lives in three of the state’s largest counties, leaving less people in rural areas to fill open jobs.

Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Director Al Juhnke says the population shift creates a gap that could be fixed with the H2A visa program.

But, he tells Brownfield, “We’re trying to get that changed to year-round workers and limited number,” Juhnke says.

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